Social Security: Is the Best Age to Take It 62, 66, or 70?

Forget Wall Street -- Social Security provides the best rate of return for retirees today. Maximizing your benefits is as important as managing your investments. Here's how.

Bond yields have crept higher over the past year, but Wall Street still doesn't offer a product that yields 6%, is backed by the U.S. government, and comes with an annual pay raise to offset inflation. A deal that good comes only from Social Security.

Many retirees can secure outsize returns simply by delaying benefits to the maximum age of 70, rather than starting at 62, the minimum and most common starting age. For couples, in particular, getting the timing right could be worth $250,000 or more, based on the present...